Former Auburn player suing NCAA, SEC in concussion lawsuit

AUBURN, Ala. — Former Auburn linebacker Joseph Miller filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the NCAA and SEC for symptoms resulting from concussions he suffered during his playing career, as reported by Jon Solomon of CBSSports.com.

Auburn doesn’t appear to be named in the suit, according to the report. Miller played at Auburn from 1996-98 and had no recordable statistics in his career, according to school record books. He is also not listed on the roster in the 1996 or 1997 media guides.

Miller says he lost memory and struggled with depression and anxiety. He would hit players so hard “that he would see stars or black out, lose balance, and try to shake it off,” according to the lawsuit.

“The goal of the suits is to get people who are injured financial compensation — something that hasn’t happened as of yet,” Edelson told CBSSports.com.

The SEC declined comment to SEC Country concerning the lawsuits. Auburn, which is not named in the suit, has not immediately returned a request for comment.

The lawsuits are the latest in a string of more focus placed on concussions in football. Eastern Illinois player Adrian Arrington was provided preliminary approval by a federal judge in January to the NCAA’s settlement from a 2011 lawsuit. The NCAA is finalizing a $75 million settlement to createa fund to test current and former athletes for brain trauma and concussion research.